The DICT Development Group

rule out
v 1: make impossible, especially beforehand [syn: preclude,
rule out, close out]
2: include or exclude by determining judicially or in agreement
with rules [syn: rule out, rule in]
3: dismiss from consideration or a contest; "John was ruled out
as a possible suspect because he had a strong alibi"; "This
possibility can be eliminated from our consideration" [syn:
rule out, eliminate, winnow out, reject]